LESSER GOLDFINCH near UBC (Vancouver)

The bird has not been seen since the morning of January 25th

(Photo: Jeremiah Kennedy)

BRAMBLING in Victoria!

Photo by Ray Lapshinoff

An apparent HY female Brambling was seen at a feeder at a private residence in Victoria from Dec 31 to Jan 2. The bird was reported today, but could not be relocated despite a thorough effort by 15 or so birders all day today.

Stay tuned for updates as available!

ROSS'S GULL just over the border!

[Photo: Ryan Shaw]

For anyone close to the Okanagan, you may want to grab your passports and head to Palmer Lake, Okanogan County, Washington! This bird has been present since the 15th.

Details from the Washington bird group:
"For those wishing to catch a glimpse of the gull, Palmer Lake is about 15 miles northwest of Tonasket, six miles south of the Canada border. Heinlen says there are two developed areas for public parking along the lake-the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Split Rock day-use site at the south end of the lake and a Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR)campground on the eastern shore. There are restroom facilities at each of these areas."

See video HERE.

For anyone planning on trying, please respect private property and do not block any driveways etc. Thus far, the bird has been frequenting a deer carcass left along the lakeshore near the south end.

Update: It has not been seen since the morning of the 27th

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Penticton

(Dec 18)--Russell Cannings, Jack Somers, Evalyn Wood, Michelle Hamilton, and Grant Halm observed a hatch-year female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER along the Okanagan River opposite the Penticton Golf & Country Club. It was foraging alone in the thick riparian area known as "Ecommunity Place" (No public access but the bird was viewed from the jogging/biking path adjacent to the woodland).

Directions for those trying for it:

Park along Riverside Drive just north of Hwy 97. Cross over the river on the hwy bridge, then walk south along the west dyke of the river. After passing the driving range--look along the riparian thickets on the west side. Listen for the junco-like call-note. In addition to the thick brush on the west side, the warbler has also been seen gleaning insects off the rocks along the side of the Okanagan River.

Dec 25--Still present in the same area [near the power pole with caution tape] (Doug Brown)

For more awesome shots of the bird from Laure, click HERE.

HOARY REDPOLL - SOUTHERN INTERIOR

Here is a picture of the 4th (presumed) Hoary Redpoll to turn up in the southern interior this winter. [Photo credit: Gail Spitler, Johnson's Landing] Be sure to check through your local redpoll and siskin flocks this winter! ID can be tricky, as there is a lot of plumage overlap between Common and Hoary. It is best to use a combination of fieldmarks to reach a decision.

Click HERE for a helpful character index for redpoll identification.

Dec 4-10: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria

Report from Steven Roias:

"I spotted the Gnatcatcher at 09:30 on Saturday (Dec 04) at the Cook street entrance to Beacon Hill park. It was foraging erratically at the tree tops usually alone, but was accompanied by a loose flock of Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. After half an hour or so, the Gnatcatcher and Kinglets moved on towards James Bay. I never did check for the bird again."

Dec 10 UPDATE: Still present in the AM-- in the same area (in between the tennis courts and the maintenance yard). Later on at 1030, it was near the totem pole, then around 1130 it was in the SE corner of the park.

--You can also track some of the previous sighting locations HERE.

Dec 2-7: CATTLE EGRET in Surrey

Dec 2-7: Michael Klotz found a CATTLE EGRET along 152 St, just north of the bridge over the Serpentine River. It is mostly foraging in the blueberry field on the east side of 152 St, about 50m north of the bridge.

Still present as of 1pm Dec 7th in the same general area.

Be wary of road construction crews that may be working in the area. There will probably be no where safe to park (close) once the work week starts.

UPDATE: The bird has been taken into the care of a rehab facility--the bird's health had deteriorated to the point that it could not fly.

(Photo: Michael Klotz)

Hoary Redpoll reported from Nelson!

Report from Nov 27--Nelson, BC

Field description from Paul Prappas:

" It was sitting directly above me on a bare branch and I was immediately struck by the clear breast. Next to no streaking on it. Pure snow white. I checked out the face from below and felt that the face profile and beak look stunted. Finally, I was struck by the shape of the bird. It seemed bigger than the other Redpolls, chunkier as it was. I've seen Hoary's up in Alaska and would be the first to admit that they can be easily mistaken for a Common and vice versa, so I am wary. I suppose considering their variation, I could have miscalled this one, but it was a very Hoary-looking Redpoll."

--This sighting, along with reports of large numbers from the Creston area, and frequent reports from the Okanagan and coast, seem to suggest that it is going to be a great year for redpolls! There are already large flocks of Pine Siskins patrolling Vancouver and the Island, so get out there and check through each flock closely!

RBA: SUMMER TANAGER

[Photo: Guy Monty (Nov 23)]

--Any comments on whether it is of western or eastern origin?

Nov 19-25: A female-type SUMMER TANAGER has been recently photographed at an undisclosed location near Parksville, BC. It has been visiting a suet feeder. At this time, the homeowners would prefer to keep their address private.

UPDATE (Nov 25): The bird has not been seen since the morning of Nov 25.

I believe this is the *3rd record all-time for BC (the first 2 both coming from 2009--1 in May near Blue River, and 1 in summer near Golden).

RBA: PAINTED BUNTING!

[Photo: Paul Kusmin]

NOV 17-23

---This bird showed up on the 17th, then was seen by about 15 birders on the 18th before it hit a window. Fortunately, the bird recovered and was able to fly away after some quiet time in a shoebox. This was around 2pm.

Ann will be keeping tabs on the bird so if it sticks around then it may be possible for more visitors to have a go of it. To arrange for a visit, call Ann @ 604-925-1690

I believe this is only the second record of PAINTED BUNTING in Vancouver, and *5th all-time for BC.

Nov 24 UPDATE: The bird was not seen between 730am-11am this morning (usually the best time). The poor weather might have been a factor. Stay tuned for more updates...